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[Preprint]. 2023 Oct 28:rs.3.rs-3431502. [Version 1] doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3431502/v1

Figure 2. Sex and subregional differences in the excitability of insular cortex pyramidal neurons.

Figure 2

(A-B) As indicated by the response of action potentials to progressive depolarizing current injection, pyramidal neurons exhibit a notably higher level of excitability in the pIC compared to the alC, and this trend is consistent across both sexes. (500 ms, ranging from 0 pAto 600 pA in 50 pA steps). (C) Representative voltage traces evoked by the injection of hyper- and depolarizing current steps (500 ms, ranging from −150 pA to 250 pA in 50 pA steps) in both anterior and posterior IC pyramidal neurons of both sexes. (D) During physiological depolarizing current stages, neurons from the alC displayed less frequent firing compared to those from the pIC. Additionally, male pIC neurons showed a higher level of excitability than those of their female counterparts. (E) An example of firing patterns triggered by the injection of +150 pA depolarizing currents for each group is provided. Data are presented as mean ± SEM in XY plots for (A-B), and as box-and-whisker plots (minimum, maximum, median) for (C). Mann-Whitney U test was applied for (A-B), and two-way ANOVA followed by Šídák’s multiple comparison test was performed for (C). P-values <0.05 are depicted in the graphs. The sample sizes for alC male and female were 14/10 and 14/6, respectively, and for pIC male and female were 20/15 and 16/12, respectively.